“Hi Mrs. Bachelder bye Mrs. Bachelder!” Will called out to Kevin’s surprised mother as he barreled up the stairs. He threw open the door, holding his phone with the news story on it and started to go on a tirade.

“The hell are you doing man, just what the hell!? I’m here worrying about you and you go off gallivanting around town attacking thugs-what are you doing?” He finally noticed what Kevin was holding in his hand. It was a black shirt that he was sewing something on to.

"Oh, uh, h-hi, Will." Kevin stammered sheepishly. Will stomped over to him.

"What. Are. You. Doing." he repeated, teeth clenched.

"I'm...ah...heh heh." He held up the shirt. On it was a bright white crescent, shaped like a fang. "I've already got some black pants and boots, so as soon as I make the mask I'll be good to go. Do you think a cape's too much?"

"And why are you going to make a mask." Will said dumbly, trying to make sense of the scene before him. He could see the pieces, but they weren’t falling into the puzzle.

"Well..." Kevin rubbed his neck, turning red in embarrassment. "I kinda figured...what with the super strength and everything, why not, y'know?" he grinned. "I mean, sure I don't have a lot of training, but I can learn. It feels really good to help people, and I have a lot to offer society with my newfound...condition. After all, I find myself bestowed with powers far beyond that of mortal man. What else can I do?" Kevin shrugged helplessly.

"You can keep your head down, that's what else!" Will exploded, shoving the phone in his face. "What happened!? What were you thinking last night!?"

"Err, I kinda wasn't." Kevin admitted, having the decency to look ashamed. "When the sun went down last night, I felt good. Like, really good. I started bouncing off the walls, and I had to get out. I felt like a caged animal, and when I was out underneath the moonlight, I was free. Gloriously free." He sighed dreamily at the memory. "Every cell in my body felt truly alive. I was jumping on the rooftops-it's not as easy as it looks on TV- and I came across that girl being attacked. I didn't have my phone, so the only thing I could do was save her myself. And it was easy. It didn't hurt when they hit me, and they weighed like next to nothing so all I had to do was toss 'em around. Even when I got stabbed-"

"YOU WERE STA-"

"Shhh!" Kevin was suddenly there, covering his mouth with a hand that felt like coiled steel, glancing fearfully at the door. “Keep it down, I don't want Mom to find out! It's alright, I'm alright! Yeah, I was stabbed, but I healed up when I drank his blood, so everything's ok." He let go, and Will stared at him.

"You really did bite that guy, then." he stated. Kevin hung his head.

"Yeah. I did. I was so pissed, and so hungry, and I could see the vein pulsing in his neck. I...there was no way I could stop myself. By the time I realized what I was doing, I'd bitten down." He closed his eyes and sighed, shivering. "Imagine you've been walking through the Arctic for weeks with no food. Then somebody shows up and holds out a bowl of piping hot soup and a thermos of hot chocolate, it's just there. You wouldn't hold back, would you? That's the closest I can get to describing it."

"I guess, I kinda see where you're coming from." Will shifted uncomfortably, then sat down. "A man’s gotta eat, after all. But you had enough self-control to stop before you killed him, so I don't see what this costume-"

"No." Kevin said, with such finality Will nearly jumped up. "I...I'd like to think I had enough self-control to stop before I drank him dry. But, the fact of the matter is...I-I'm not proud to admit this...I didn't. The blood. It was so hot, so sweet..." Will leaned back as Kevin's features twisted with pure, unadulterated lust. Kevin licked his lips. "You don't know what it was like. The pure hunger and desire...it was overwhelming. I was going to drink him up and everyone else there." Kevin hung his head, breathing heavily. Will gathered his courage and worked to clear his throat.

"Then. Then, why didn't you?" he asked softly.

"As I was imbibing, I could feel them." Kevin looked up and stared straight ahead, determinedly. There was a glint in his eye. "Superman. Spider-Man. Batman. Wolverine. Wonder Woman. The Thing. Captain America. Green Arrow, Flash, Ghost Rider, and so many more. I could feel them all, staring at me." He laughed at Will's face. "Relax, I know it was just in my head. But, I've looked up to all of them for my whole life. Mom hasn’t always been around, but my heroes have. And if they were there, if they were real, what would they say if they saw me literally drain a man's blood to death?"

"It's not that I had the willpower to stop. It's that I couldn't face my heroes if I didn't."

Silence hung in the air between them. Kevin had poured his heart out to Will; it was the longest time he'd ever even heard him talk. Will wanted to break the tension, but it didn't seem right to make light of his feelings.

"So. Guess you're...gonna be a superhero." Will said at last.

"Yeah. I may have to stalk the night, but it won't be the innocent who have to fear me." Kevin said, smiling in relief. Will shook his head.

"This's crazy. You're crazy." He got up and started pacing back and forth. "So, what about finding the vamp that did this to you?"

"Still a priority. This's really more of a side gig. If we can find her, somehow change me back, great. But until then...I feel I have a duty to do what's right." Kevin said quietly. Will looked away.

"And the feeding on blood?" Will asked dubiously.

"Easy, I'll feed off of criminals." Will raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"And the cops?"

"Won't be able to catch me. I can run and jump faster and farther than their cars can keep up. Trust me, I've thought this over, and I'm doing it." Kevin resolved.

"Unbelievable." Will muttered. "Alright then. Let's hear it. What's your hero name gonna be?" Kevin flashed a toothy grin.

"Evil beware, for the fang of justice hunts the night. Behold, the vampiric hero Nightfang!" He stood straight and tall, a pose that would make both George and Christopher Reeves proud.

"Nightfang?" Will said. "Lame."

"Lame? How is it lame?" Kevin said, frowning. "I think it's cool. What's wrong with it?'

"It just, um, seems like you're trying too hard." Will said.

"Well, do you have anything better?" Will thought for a moment.

"Vamp-Man?" he offered.

"Vamp-Man! That's a terrible superhero name. It doesn't roll off the tongue nearly as well as Nightfang." Kevin argued. "That's way lamer than Nightfang."

"Maybe, but Nightfang is still lame." Will deadpanned.

"Well, if you're not offering anything better, you don't get a vote. Nightfang is the perfect name for a vampire superhero, so I'm Nightfang. Bwsha!" He threw out his arms and held the pose, eyes sparkling. Will just shook his head.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Oh man.” Linda cracked her back, then resumed putting her things away, yawning. It had been a spectacularly long night, being interviewed by the police and the paper, and she still hadn’t gone to bed yet. She’d just showered and put on her most comfortable fuzzy pajamas and was trying to munch on something to calm down before she got to sleep, when someone knocked on the door. “Coming!”

She opened it to find two teenagers, a boy and a girl.

“Hello there!” Scott said brightly. “Am I correct in identifying you as Linda Moore?”

“Yes, I am.” she said warily, confused.

“Fantastic, just fantastic. Miss Moore, I’m sorry to have to bother you, and I realize you’ve been through a trying time, but we’re here to hopefully talk to you about the mysterious vigilante you encountered last night.” Right, this was it; Scott had come prepared. He knew she’d be hostile and tired, but he’d been practicing and rehearsing with Amber on the way over. They’d established their backstories as members of the school’s newspaper, and had come to her about the story potentially featuring one of their classmates. He’d come up with counterarguments to shoot down every conceivable reason she’d refuse them. No, he was brimming with determination. There was no way he’d fail!

“Oh, you’re here to talk about that guy? Awesome! Come in, come in! I’ll tell you everything!” she chirped brightly, heading inside and beckoning them in. Amber giggled at Scott’s deflated face and followed her inside.

The house was small and cramped, nearly no room to maneuver within the most spacious part of the den. Compounding the matter was the fact that the main armchair in front of the TV and oversized coffee table was enormous. Next to it, and the only piece of furniture that had space around it was a nearly comically undersized loveseat, obviously chosen to ensure there was a way through the room. Amber and Scott had to squeeze the five inches between the table and wall to sit uncomfortably close together on the loveseat, squashed.

“Sorry. Most of this stuff came from my dad, and he’s huge. Plus I, eh, don’t get that many visitors here.” Linda apologized, apparently being swallowed by the armchair.

“Oh, it’s okay.” Amber said, finally settling in. “So please, Miss Moore, tell us exactly what happened last night. We read the paper-move your leg-and it just seems too incredible to be true.” she said, trying to adjust so she and Scott were actually able to move and take notes.

“Oh, it was amazing!” Linda squeaked. “I had just broken up with my jerk of a boyfriend, and was on my way home when those guys jumped me. They were holding me down when all of a sudden, out of nowhere comes this guy and shouts something at them, I didn’t hear what. They go over and start beating on him, but he just laughs and shrugs it off, then just grabs ‘em and tosses ‘em in a pile! It was the most incredible thing I’ve seen in my life, it was just like a movie!” she explained animatedly, flailing her hands around.

“I see. And what of the man holding you down?” Amber said, trying to keep calm but feeling horrified. This woman had been jumped by scum. It was amazing she was so cheerful.

“Oh, he got up during the scuffle. He pulls out a gun and starts shooting at the guy, but I swear he doesn’t care! He just ducks and weaves around, then he strides forward and was at the guy, quicker than anything! He turns around and told me to leave, and you bet I did after all that. Then I hailed a passerby and went straight to the cops. And that’s how my hero saved me. So dreamy.” she sighed, lost in memory. The teens glanced at each other.

“Err, yes. Uh, did you happen to-move your arm-know what he looked like?” Scott said, squirming to pull out a pen and notepad.

“How could I forget?” Linda smiled and gazed off into the distance. “He had dark, curly hair and deep, bright eyes. I could swear I could see them shine. He was tall, if not six foot then close to it. He was thin, I thought he looked gangly at first but I think he was just wearing a loose t-shirt. He’s a white guy, but very, very fair, nearly pasty. I don’t think he gets very much sun.”

“That’s the leading theory.” Scott deadpanned.

“Anyway, he seemed young, too; I think he might be around high school age, only about a freshman in college if not. I wonder how he feels about older women…” Linda trailed off, giggling and blushing. Scott palmed his face.

“Focus, please. Anything else?” Amber said sternly. Linda blinked and came back to reality.

“Oh, sorry. Uh, let’s see…oh! He had a deep, gravelly voice, very commanding and manly.” She dissolved into giggles again.

“Did you happen to see his face?” Amber asked. Linda shook her head.

“The police asked me that too. Sorry, I only saw him for like a minute at most. It was dark, and it all happened so fast, I mainly got the outline of him. I didn’t see his face too much, but I know he doesn’t have any markings or scars or anything, I think. I do know he has very striking eyes though. They almost seemed to glow.” She sighed and leaned back into her chair, almost becoming engulfed.

“I see. Well, thank you for your time, but we need to get going. We’re on his trail, and you’ve been very helpful.” Scott said as he disentangled himself from Amber and the couch and stood up. “We’ll just see ourselves out.”

“Uh-huh.” Linda muttered, still thinking about her savior’s…eyes. Yes, definitely eyes, and nowhere else. The two teens shuffled out, but were stopped by her call. “Wait! If you see him, tell him I send my love.”

“Will do.” Scott pulled Amber out and shut the door quickly, muttering to himself. “Eesh.”

“At least we have a description of the guy, even if it is a little vague.” Amber said, kicking a stone. It skipped down the street, outpacing a car going the same way.

“Yeah, not a hundred percent I trust that.” Scott deadpanned, opening the notepad. “I’m a little surprised she didn’t describe his rippling muscles or heaving chest.”

“Tall, dark-haired guy, fairly skinny, pale, and around our age. It’s not much, but that does narrow it down.” Amber said, looking over the facts. “Do you think he goes to our school?”

“It’s a definite possibility. I’m not willing to take that bet just yet though.” He shook his head. “Since you’re corporeal again I don’t feel like breaking in to see who was out recently, that can wait until Monday. Or he could be new and just moved here. Or we could be barking up the wrong tree entirely and he just started hunting here for food and decided to be a nice guy for once.” Scott groaned, rubbing his head. There were too many possibilities, and not enough information.

“Well, let’s let Leo know to be on the lookout. I’d feel better if that sword of his was pointed at the vampire. You have his number, right?” Amber asked.

“No, why would I?” Scott said, eyebrow raised. Amber rolled her eyes.

“Two weeks ago, when you split up to find the daemon, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” Scott pulled out his phone and looked at the contacts. “Huh. Seems you’re right. I forgot to delete it.”

“Don’t delete your friends’ phone numbers. Especially when you don’t have that many to begin with.” she deadpanned.

"Hey, I…” He glanced back at the number, only one of two that wasn’t his family. “Shut up.”

“My, such an eloquent response.” Amber laughed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was it, Terry mused. There was no way he was getting past them. He eyed Eric and nodded. Eric grimaced and nodded back, accepting his role as the human sacrifice to that…monster.

“Now, go!” Terry shouted. His team scattered, Eric driving straight down the middle to intercept. There was no way he could stop him, of course, but he could slow him down long enough to give the others enough time to group up and take him down.

Leo, smiling widely, shot forward and dribbled the ball around Eric with ease, almost passing through him like a ghost. The rest of the team were stupefied, and though they raced to catch up, it was all too late. It was up to their tired, soaked, dehydrated captain now. Leo hummed, perspiring lightly.

“Oh no you don’t!” Terry sprang into action. Leo, perfect football captain Leo, wouldn’t win this game, not just one against them all!

Leo didn’t bother with words. Instead he passed, and Terry blinked. There was no one for him to pass to. Leo seemed to vanish from his view, and he turned to see him catch the ball and dribble it all the way to the net. With a seemingly effortless leap, Leo slammed the ball into the net.

“Alright! Two points, right?” he said to the others. The entire basketball team groaned and collapsed, panting in exertion.

“That’s just not fair. We work just as hard as the football team, how can you beat all of us just by yourself!?” Terry moaned. Leo smiled and reached down, helping him up.

“Just good genes and healthy living, I guess.” Leo chuckled. “I’ve also been practicing with my dad as soon as I was old enough to walk. Fifteen years of practice builds you up.”

“Sheesh.” Terry shook his head and joined the others. Leo went over to his bag, toweled off and checked his phone. There was a message.

Good game. Your physical condition is excellent. Meet me behind the football field.

Leo looked up and saw the far end gym doors close, a swish of a dark cloak the only thing he could make out. He narrowed his eyes.

"Oh man!" Terry said, dropping next to him. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"Huh? Ahh, nah. Just felt like a bit of exercise." Leo said humbly, scratching his golden-blonde locks.

"Right. Playing nearly the entire basketball team. By yourself. Not crazy." Terry said, rolling his eyes.

"But I won, didn't I?" Leo said innocently. Terry grumbled, and Leo laughed. "Thanks for the game, it was fun. I've got to go and run, though. Just got a call."

"Whatever. Get out of my sight." Terry mumbled good-naturedly.

"You know, you're always free to try a game against the football team if you wanted a workout." Leo offered. Terry had visions of the entire team charging, trying to tackle him all at once.

"I'll pass. I like living."

"Suit yourself." Leo shrugged, then gathered up his gym bag and left. Ordinarily, he'd get a shower and change, but he suspected he wasn't done sweating. He thumbed his sword-shaped charm bracelet.

Making sure there was no one else around, he cautiously made his way to the football field. Stepping out onto the grass in the pale sunlight, he glanced about for his mysterious contact. There was only an empty field, surrounded by bleachers.

"There you are." a rough, uneven voice said behind him. Leo jumped away and whirled, a hair's breadth away from pulling out his sword. "Good reflexes. I like that."

Leo stared at a man, only a few inches shorter than him, wearing a long, dark, concealing overcoat. He had black leather gloves and boots on, and Leo could see a short, scraggly beard underneath a black wide-brimmed hat. The rest of his face was completely obscured.

"Forgive me sir, you have me at an advantage. Who might you be?" Leo said, frowning. He could see a grin form from the beard.

"I see a reason to answer that. Then again, I also see a reason not to." the man said, voice filled with smoky gravel. Leo surreptitiously started to turn and shuffle around; this man seemed...off. And very dangerous. "What I will tell you is that we have, I'll say a friend in common."

"Do we now?" Leo said, glancing around to see if there was anyone else, and at the exits.

"Indeed. I'm here at their request, in fact. I've heard through the vine of grapes that you've managed to chop up some out of town visitors with that shiny sword of yours." the man said, letting some grease into the words. Leo froze.

"I see. And might you be related to those visitors?" he asked. The charm dangled on his wrist. The man's head titled, still covering his face.

"Could be, could be. What would you do if I am?"

"Then I must please ask you to leave. This is a peaceful town, and I intend to keep it that way. One way, or another." Leo said calmly, staring straight ahead at him. The man considered the teen before him. There was no malice, no hatred in his declaration, only a description of what was going to happen.

"Very regal. Very kingly." the man said, bobbing his head. "Truly desirable qualities. Unfortunately, thanks to the daemons that you killed, I am here. Face me now. Or you can face me later, when I have opportunity to steal away your lovely little girlfriend. I understand she also aided you in the fight, I am sure that many would like to see her dead." Leo's eyes went wide, then he threw out his arm, the sword materializing in his hand. Without a word he charged, thrusting the tip of the blade at the man in black.

The man slid to the side and slapped away the blade with his gloved hand. Leo felt the edge slice in, but not enough to do any sort of real harm. The man stared at his hand. There was no blood.

"Excellent trick, turning the blade to a slash after thrust fails. But not good, no. Not good enough."

"What exactly do you want from me?" Leo said, drawing back and bringing his sword to bear.

"I want to judge for myself the blade of the man who tested Hastazemus." the man said. Leo narrowed his eyes. This man seemed to know everything that had gone down on Halloween. Why was he here? Was he in actuality a daemon, intent on revenge?

"Tell me, who sent you? Why are you really here? If you merely wanted to test me, simply explaining would have gotten me to acquiesce." he said. The man gave a barking, disjointed laugh.

"True. You are a reasonable person. But that would not suffice." The man lifted his head to stare at him. Presumably. Leo saw he was wearing large, opaque sunglasses that hid the whole top half of his face. "I need to discern what you are capable of. Yourself, the hero type, always responds more strongly to the threat to loved ones. Now come. If you do not, I shall hunt down and dispose of those you hold dear. I shall do what I need to in order to achieve the goal at hand." He reached into his coat and pulled out a brown leather whip, cracking it between them. Sparks flew from the cord.

"I see. My response is clear, then." Leo said, gathering his courage and resolve. He returned his sword to bracelet form, and kneeled down before the man, bowing his head. "I surrender. Do with me as you will." The man blinked.

"What is this?" he scowled. "Giving up without a fight? Others lives are depending on you!"

"I don't believe you. You are only here to test me. If you truly meant to do me or my friends harm, you would have gone after them first." Leo said evenly. The man cracked the whip in irritation.

"Fool boy! I kill them after you, so you can't defend them!"

"Whatever you say." Leo smiled serenely. "I am defenseless. I cannot stop you."

"Toss away your weapon. Then, I will believe this is not a trick." the man said, glaring behind his sunglasses. Leo wordlessly removed the bracelet and threw it away onto the field without hesitation. The man shook his head.

"There. See?" Leo said, bowing his head again.

"Unbelievable. I'm glad I'm here. You were too foolish to continue." He raised his arm up high, the whip crackling with energy to cut him in two. Leo grinned.

"HIKE!" Leo drove off his bent leg, perfectly tackling his shoulder into the man's hips, bringing him down. He crawled up to the surprised man's head, ready to knock his lights out with a raised fist. "Do you surrender?"

The man stared at him, gaping. Then he started chuckling, erupting into a full-bellied laugh, high and tinkling.

"Good show! Good show! I've never seen a chosen of Zet-Mathaig throw their weapon away just to lure an enemy closer! Ha! But that really isn't something you should make a habit of."

"And you're the person who's supposed to train me, aren't you?" Leo said genially, but still didn't lower his fist. The man nodded with an approving eye.

"You're quick, with good instincts. I've never seen a new candidate grasp the subtleties of misdirection in combat so quickly before." the man said. "Isn't that right, Lagdinras?"

Indeed.

Six balls of fire burst into existance, spiralling in a circle and carving a hole in reality for the enormous golden eye to appear through.

"Aw, it was nothing. I just remembered a good example." Leo said, recalling Scott facing down Hastazemus.

Among the green Recruits, Leo here Stands tall in regards to Potential. He is Worthy to be Chosen of the Holy Zet-Mathaig, He who Loves All and Protects All with His thousand eyes.

The eye's attention turned to Leo.

This is your Trainer of the Chosen, a Chosen himself who has Served for nearly three eons. He has Much to teach you. Learn well. I must Away, so fare the both of you Well. Hail Zet-Mathaig, He of the Many Enlightened Tendrils!

With that, the fire and the eye folded back into its' normal dimension, leaving reality alone once again.

"We should be started then. I am here for three of your months alone, our time together is limited. After that, there is much to do. During that time there is much to do, factually." the man said, getting up and stretching his neck.

"'Of your months'? Where are you from?" Leo said, handing him back his hat, lost in the scuffle. The man grinned.

"I suppose you should know." He looked around, making doubly sure there was no one else. He reached up and took off his sunglasses. Leo gasped and instinctively took a step back.

His eyes were black, bulging and multifaceted like an insects, and each one had a glowing, turquoise slit pupil, like a jaguar.

"I-I can see you're not from around here." Leo gulped.

"Indeed. I am Mielios Cvthst..." the rest of the name was drowned out in noises that Leo couldn't make out. "But since human vocal chords cannot pronounce it, you may refer to me as Mielios." he said, returning the sunglasses to his face. "I am from the distant land of Kartg. This is not the first time I've visited this planet, but it is the first time I've conversed with a human for so long."

"I...see." Leo said diplomatically. "Uh. Welcome to Earth? Wait, that means you are an extraterrestrial, right?"

"I suppose, but you and your kind are much more strange and alien to me. Imagine, your skeletons are on the inside! Your organs are contained in there as well! It's a wonder how you function, especially with hearing that has...little of a range as yours does. There are many wonderful vibrations you cannot perceive."

"Um, I guess." Leo said, mind reeling. Suddenly, his phone vibrated in the bag. "Excuse me. Hello?" he said, picking it up. "Oh, hi Scott! Uh, yes, I'm actually a little busy...what? Uh-huh, uh-huh...I see. That's...no, yeah. I'll be there as soon as I can. Thanks, bye." Leo hung up and turned to Mielios, his face becoming stern. "It seems that there's some trouble brewing. We most likely have a vampire in town. Do you mind accompanying me to meet up with my friends? They'd like my help with the investigation."

"Ho hoo, on the job training. It so happens I am quite adept at hunting down and eliminating all kinds of vampires." Mielios replied, grinning. Leo frowned.

"Wait, did Lagdinras know this was going to happen? Is that why he sent you?"

"Perhaps." Mielios said, stroking his beard. "You must understand, he and Lord Zet-Mathaig are creatures far stranger than you to I, or I to you. They operate on a grander cosmic scale. I do not believe they perceive cause and effect the quite same way we do. All I know is Lagdinras has guided me here. You will find, should you survive long enough, Lagdinras does not always explain to your satisfaction. However, he often does not need to. He points us where we need to go, and it is up to us to do the rest. This is why we have been chosen."

"Huh." Leo said, nodding. "Well, if it is up to us, we should get going."

"That is the correct choice. Come, I shall instruct you in the finer points of vampire extermination along the way."